Obama To DOJ: Block Terrorist Ad
By Nicole Belle Sunday Aug 24, 2008 9:00pmThis is how you respond to Swiftboaters.
Sen. Barack Obama has launched an all-out effort to block a Republican billionaire's efforts to tie him to domestic and foreign terrorists in a wave of negative television ads.
Obama's campaign has written the Department of Justice demanding a criminal investigation of the "American Issues Project," the vehicle through which Dallas investor Harold Simmons is financing the advertisements. The Obama campaign - and tens of thousands of supporters - also is pressuring television networks and affiliates to reject the ads. The effort has met with some success: CNN and Fox News are not airing the attacks.
Obama has also launched his own response ad, directly addressing Simmons' attempt to link him to domestic terror.
The project is "a knowing and willful attempt to violate the strictures of federal election law," Obama general counsel Bob Bauer wrote to Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Keeney last week in a letter provided to Politico. Bauer argued that by advocating Obama's defeat, the ad should be subject to the contribution limits of federal campaign law, not the anything-goes regime of issue advocacy.
Bauer's letter called on the Justice Department to open "an investigation of the American Issues Project; its officers and directors; and its anonymous donors, whoever they may be."
Your voice counts too. The Obama campaign - and tens of thousands of supporters - are also pressuring television networks and affiliates to reject the ads. The effort has met with some success: CNN and Fox News are not airing the attacks, and some local affiliates have refused as well. Sadly, the Sinclair network -- the same ones who aired the Kerry SBVT smear campaign under the guise of a "documentary" has aired the ad in all of its outlets.
If you want to become involved in fighting back against this kind of dishonest smearing, join up at fightthesmears.com.
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Maybe I'm not jaded after all, because even I never suspected that the Republican cronies would stoop this low.
With a heavily politicized DoJ, I am interested to see if there will there be any response from them concerning this matter that is non-partisan and interested in "justice" and "fairness".
that american project website is very slick looking.
This ad was run no less than 4 times on KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pa. Saturday night between 8:00 P.M. and 11:30 P.M. during the Steelers-Vikings Game to appeal to the jocks and cocks. There were calls to the station that were answered with basically "tough shit, it's money and this is America."
CBS affiliate. Fox wannabe.
obama better be ready and quick and on his feet. with a couple of months to go, i imagine an all out assault, besides the daily MSM all out assault.
Father Tyme @ 4:
no doubt. the perfect time to run that crap. jocks are lemmings.
Fox News may not be airing the ad, but Sinclair owns many a Fox station throughout the country meaning that it will air on a Fox station but not Fox News.
carefulwiththatAXEeugene @ 6:
i meant...couch jocks.
“tough shit, it’s money and this is America.”
Duh.
Well, good for O on this one. Fight 'em hard.
obama should just ignore shit like this. the more seriously you take the longer it will stick. just add john kerry.
They are playing dirty big time.
Fight back.
Make sure you let people know facts
about John McCain that hit hard.
He voted for torture.
He wants to make having an abortion illegal.
He is filthy rich.
He wants to cut taxes even more for the very rich.
He is a sellout to the man who trashed him and his family.
He wants to destroy Social Security.
He wants to destroy health insurance
for everyone but the very rich.
He wants endless war.
Obama should do what he is doing about this issue, which is to ridicule the people who attempt this shit. His response to the "madrassa" meme was so quick, strong, and awesome that the right-wing pundits spinning it got caught looking like retards. And he needs to do that again with this "ties to terrorism" nonsense.
That's it - shred them tiger.
*
This is the response I've been looking for. It's nice to see Obama stand up for himself, unlike Kerry.
I like the new strategy -- take the Sewer Rats to court BEFORE you lose the election.
*
I'm gaining hope. We have to fight the smears. The 30% of the lemmings are getting scared. This is why I'm hopeful Obama will win. Take on the sons of bitches, call them for the unpatrotic dirtbags they truly are.
roger @ 11:
Sorry, the "taking the high road" politics doesn't work. Just ask president Dukakis, Mondale, Gore, Kerry, McGovern. Contrary to what people say, the negative attacks work. The party pollsters know this, but for some reason the Democratic consultants just won't do it. Obama needs to hit McBush hard and often. Play rough, not dirty. There's plenty to work with without getting personal.
P.D. @ 17:
I have to use a little stronger description. Traitors.
To Harold Simmons and his cronies of hate and lies: "Have you no decency? Have you at long last any decency?" No honor, no decency, no truth, no bravery, only cowardly,shameful lies. They cannot possibly win using the truth--the GOP must lie and cheat to win. What a bunch of losers. Now how many people will fall for it again?
Wait a minute. Did I read that right? Fox News is NOT going to air the ad? Did I just land in Bizzaro World?
This effort is little more than "Mommy make them stop!" and makes Obama look week. First rule of dealing with Republitards:
Never respond -RETALIATE!
Obama's campaign should already be running ads featuring Dungeon Master McCain confessing to carrying out war crimes. The man is an admitted murderer of women and children, for heaven's sake!
And so, with the freaking nonsense of the Beijing olympics being over, let the real games begin.
Ron@19, True, I've been called unpatrotic, sympathtic to terrorists and weak on terror. Why? I had the balls to vote for Kerry in 2004. Now I am watching the MSM treating McCain with kid gloves while throwing shit on Obama's campaign. Reminds of 2004 all over again. Hopefully the average Joe doesn't fall for it this time.
All the Republicans have is fear itself.
I know this is off topic BUT, last night on the CBS news, Katie C. asks Mc. about his "houses" gaffe - point blank. Basically she asks "how could you NOT know?" he goes into this bizarre rant about being a P.O.W., lucky to have a house, blah blah - I mean it was damn odd. WTF???
DoJ?
That is rich.
DOJ? Well, I guess they can act quicker than the moribond FEC....I said "can", not that they will. The way to go is to openly pressure advertisers. That was the way that back in 2004
we got Sinclair to not air a real dirty hit piece on Kerry. But if these are just local stations,
then it probably becomes more difficult. But that does't mean you can't make your voices heard locally to the station, and yes, THREATEN to organize an email campaign to pressure advertisers of the station. But you need to act quickly.
seriously @ 26:
Gee, I didn't know that McLame was a POW. He should try and mention that more
often so as to let the American voters know.
Those neocon types in the dark hallways and boardrooms, or country club patios have found that it's less messy (and bloody) to assassinate individuals through the media than physically doing so like they did in Dallas, Memphis & LA.
This is how you respond to Swiftboaters.
By writing a letter to the Bush Department of (republican) Justice?? I doubt they'll even bother to read it.
Once again, Obama is put on the defensive and will, most likely, end up denouncing Ayers (again) which makes him look weak and silly.
Porky Pine @ 21:
They already did, "by mistake."
Impeach cheney and bush @ 20:
Well said! What do we know about Harold Simmons? How can we reach him with your message?
No need to tell me more about Simmons I looked him up. Not a very good person at all. I assume he believes that he owns America. I was aware of Bob Perry who joined Simmons in funding the Swiftboaters I suppose. Thanks, impeach @ 20
You want terrorist links? How about Bush - Bin Laden?
Saudis, including Bin Laden family, allowed to leave US after 9/11
The Carlyle Group
Bush derailed Bin Laden investigation before 9/11
Simmons, Perry and their ilk are beneath contemptible. They are a 5th column in the U.S. that would destroy the nation so that they may gain even more riches and power. The time has come when the nation must begin to think of treason trials, followed by exile for the racist, fascist individuals that live amongst us.
we must forge forwards in incriments for only with small changes over generations will incriments of small change occour, this convention will be our shineing moment our thousand points of bright shiney wave of the future, and now form a conga line and boogie !
Out here in Pittsburgh I have seen that ad on TV. I sent an email to the station manager (NBC affiliate) and this was his indigent response. So much for that "NBC in the Obama Tank" meme.
Pittsburghers, like all Americans, have long cherished their right to
express opinions freely. We may not like what is said on occasion, but
we defend the right for people to express different views. The spot
produced and financed by The American Issues Project was reviewed
thoroughly by WPXI's legal team. The attorneys also reviewed the counter
claims by the Obama campaign. At this time we have determined we will
run the ad. It becomes a slippery slope when TV stations take it upon
themselves to censor political speech.
Thank you for writing.
Ray Carter
VP and General Manager
WPXI-TV
Pittsburgh
Here is a VERY troubling story I just saw on Drudge:
http://cbs4denver.com/denver2008/assisination.plot.obama.2.802827.html
Since they have discovered these men who claimed to be planning an assassination attempt on Obama this Thursday night (the police pretty much caught the group by ACCIDENT), I really hope the DNC moves the venue back inside where it belongs, for everyone's security.
JimboSlice @ 38:
Thanks for sharing. Pretty sad this weak and worthless coward at WPXI doesn't have the balls to do what is right and take an affirmative stand. I guess he'd rather just suck up to his corrupt corporate masters and do what the collective tells him to do. Slippery slope my ass--just another flimsy excuse by a morally compromised toady. What a pitiful bastard.
I just fought back. Just gave them a donation. Any ad where a political party resorts to the court to quash must be protected as a free speech issue.
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
- G.W. Bush, 9/13/01
"I want justice...There's an old poster out West, as I recall, that said, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive,'"
- G.W. Bush, 9/17/01, UPI
"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."
- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02
"I am truly not that concerned about him."
- G.W. Bush, repsonding to a question about bin Laden's whereabouts,
3/13/02 (The New American, 4/8/02)
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/2002/11/13_Laden.html
So, I just watched the ad. Which part of it isn't true?
It says that Barack Obama was friends with William Ayers and that Ayers was involved with the Weather Underground. That Obama has stood up for Ayers and that they worked together. All of this is true.
If Obama doesn't like the ad he should run a counter ad. But to try to shut down political speech that seems unamerican.
Why doesn't Obama just call these people racists. That's his old standby. It's worked in the past.
He's not going to stop questions and statements about his association with William Ayers by pulling legal stunts. He has to answer the questions and the electorate will decide how it feels about the issue. Till then it's not going to go away.
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So FOX declined to run the ad.
How wonderful and magnanimous.
Why should they run the ad? Hannity has been doing this same smear for months on a daily basis. Fox in fact has it both ways. They can claim that they are not running it while claiming that they don't interfere with their political commentators
the TV ads reinforce a bigger problem that is usually ignored by progressives-the everpresent coordinated uncontested repetition of extended versions of the same ads 24/7 on the GOP talk radio monopoly- by the time the obama people become aware of the ads its been on radio for weeks so they're playing catchup.
they need to monitor radio transcripts and respond with radio ads that correct the lies on the same stations that air them-
Impeach cheney and bush @ 20:
This is a sad example demonstrating it is not about the country at all to people like this but about a few keeping control of the country for thier own power needs and greed. Goodnes young people please vote by the millions to finally get this group out of D.C.
They are frightening. John McCain is just another Pres. they would use to continue their dastardly deeds.
Now you know what mucusasy will say don't you? Now everything that is illegal should be a crime!
No when you are part of the criminal cabal.
Don't you people ever listen?
The true anti-Christs are those who preach only fear and hatred. Always answer them hard and with the truth. They really can't stand the light of day.
All well and good, but it's still bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Has our candidate forgotten "the Chicago Way"?
The real way you fight this crap is by taking the gloves off against McCain. Hit him hard enough to send him reeling.
I really don't want to sit at home yelling "bullshit" at the TV next January 20.
I hope that the Obama team gives Joe B. a plane ticket and tells him to go to work.
orangehairboy @ 1:
There is no leadership demonstrated by McCain and cronies simply in the fact that they condone this pathetic crap with their silence. No leadership...they continue to take this country down the dark side for votes.
No leadership here and we should point it out to them!
I'm glad to see that the democratic party feels the need to honor a killer, Ted Kennedy. What about Mary Jo, Ted!!!!????? And as far as M. Obama goes, she's as bad as her husband.
p. bobel @ 51:
Talk about honoring killers: Bush gave CIA director George Tenet (fabricating evidence of WMDs in Iraq), retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks (mismanaging the Iraq War, quote: "in the event of another terrorist attack, American Constitutional liberties might be discarded by popular demand in favor of a military state") and Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer (disbanded the Iraqi army, tens of billions of dollars in cash disappeared under his administration) Presidential Medals of Freedom.
p. bobel, as to Michele Obama and her husband, get over the color of their skin.
Porky Pine @ 21:
These smear ads must be really bad if Fox News won't show them. They did show one "by accident" however.
Another good way to fight the swift-boaters (and their ilk) is to never, ever link to Politico.
But it's on the tee vee. It's got to be true.
There's a special place in hell for swift boaters.
Two related issues seem very important and should be hammered by Dems. The Maliki government is saying that the agreement does not immunize our soldiers and contractors from legal ramifications of their actions. Also the Maliki government is asserting control over our airstrikes and offensive operations. We are turning our foreign policy over to a foreign entity. Someone needs to ask Petraeus what he thinks of operating under these constraints. Mailiki is undoing Petraeus's work with the Awakening Councils and with efforts to be even handed. We will truly become the instrument of the Badr Corps and the Shiite controlled government. We cannot operate under these conditions.
"This is how you respond to Swiftboaters."
Bullshit! The Bush DOJ will do nothing. The ONLY way to deal with this is to sue each individual station that airs the ad for $100,000,000. It doesn't even matter if you eventually win or lose; make sure each station knows they will have to spend a lot of money to defend themselves for this type of slander.
p. bobel @ 51:
Ted Kennedy has killed far fewer innocent civilians than John McCain has, p.
Ahhhh, but did he get them drunk and screw them like Teddy did?
The Texas criminals are sounding desperate. They must know that the Obama camp has the goods on Bush and that Joe Biden is going to tell us all about it. In fact, Joe Biden is going to imprint it into our brains -- just like Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The person responsible for the most racist Obama smear campagin at the NO QUARTER blog run by Larry Johnson and who uses the moniker, "Texas Darlin", has been taken down since Joe Biden was named Obama's VP.
I find it rather amusing that this idiot Simmons (another Texas town besides Crawford must be missing one) is using inuendo to insinuate that Obama had actual ties with the Weather Underground and the so-called "domestic terrorism" that happened in 1969.
If Simmons was truly interested in doing something about Domestic Terrorism, he would be creating ads to support the Impeachment, Indictment, Conviction, and Incarceration of Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld et al. They are the Real Domestic Terrorists!!
Rusty "One House" Shackleford @ 58:
Really, as far as we know, Ted Kennedy didn't "kill" anyone. Just like the "untimely deaths" of JFK, RFK, MLK, the investigation of what really happened the night MJK died is rather murky.
I really think the folks who murdered those other 3, didn't want
Teddy to be successful in his run for president, but didn't think they could get away with another murder of a Kennedy or prominent civil activist. So they arranged for a little "accident" to impugn his integrity and ensure he could never be president.
Never underestimate the Bush crime family.
The American Idiots Project!
Uh, what, exactly, was dishonest?
Nothing. Like it or not, Obama made a choice to cozy up to a known and unrepentant terrorist when it served his purposes to do so.
Nobody would be going "nothing to see here" if McCain had cozied up to some Neo-Nazi.
And, if any Republican used these tactics against a Dem ad, you folks would be crying about the chill in the air and tearing up the constitution.
Notice - using government agencies and the threat of frivolous lawsuits to surpress free speech IS what tyranny looks like.
No lies in the ad. And Kurtz is doing research, hasn't even had a chance to publish any "lies".
Naw, just like a bunch of fascists like you guys to try and stifle dissent.
Now that is a sentiment I expect from the Obamanation! Comparing a US citizen left to die by Teddy to our enemy in time of war. You keep classy, guy!
But Teddy got her drunk and screwed her unlike McCain. he just bombed them.
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